Pivot retainer



Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,442 A E. G. THOMAS RETAINER Filed Sgpt. 2, 1925 Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,682,442 PATENT OFFICE.

wup o. or romeo, 01110, assrenon T0 TOLEDO scam: oomrnnr, or

TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

PIVOT RETAINER.

Application filed September 2, 1925. Serial No. 53,968.

- v This invention relates to means for mounting lmife edge'pivots such as are employed in weighing sca es and analogous machines, and, while I have shownthe device as used for the purpose of secur ng a 1vot to a scale lever, it is also adapted for a mug pivots to other parts of machines.

One of the particular ob ects Oflll'llS invention is the provision of inexpensive and eflicient means for securely holdlng a pivotbar in place in a lever or other machlne element. I

Another object of the invention 1s to provide means for so mounting a pivot that it is reliably held against accidental shifting but nevertheless is readily removable for purposes of repair and replacement.

Still another object is the prov1s1on of an inexpensive and eflicient combined pivot supporting key and thrust bearing.

Other objects and advantages W llldJQ apparent from the following desc1'1pt1on, in which reference is had to the accompany ng drawings illustrating referred embodiments of my'inve'ntion an wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings Figure I is an elevational new of a portion of a lever with two pivots secured thcreto; according to my invention;

Figure II is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the lever showing the'preferred form of the pivot retaining means;

Figure III is a fragmentary elevational view of that portion of thelever 1llustrated in Figure II; 1

Figure IV is an enlarged detail view of the pivot retaining key;

Figure V is an end view of the key illustrated in Figure IV;

Figure VI is a fragmentary v ew of a portion of a lever showing the openlngs adapted to receive the pivot and retaining keys;

Figure VII is a sectional view similar to Figure II showing a modified form of the device;

Figure VIII is a fragmentary elevational view of the parts illustrated in Figure VII; and

Figure IX is a fragmentary elevational view of one end of a lever showing another form of the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the lever 1 is of a type used in scales designed for weighing comparatively heavy loads, and comprises a vertical web having laterally extending flanges along its upper and lower sides, making it of substantially I-beam section. The portions of the web through which the pivots extend are formed with integral bosses 2 and 3, which are preferably about the depth of the flanges and are merged with them, as illustrated in Figure I. Thebosses 2 and 3 are also provided with integral laterally projecting portions 4 which form suitable co-operating surfaces for the pivot retaining keys, which construction will be hereinafter described in further detail.

In the form of the device particularly illustrated in Figures II, III and VI a cylindrical opening 5 is first drilled through the boss with the axis of this opening perpendicular to the central vertical plane of the lever. Another cylindrical opening 6 is then bored through the boss, the axis of the latter opening making an acute angle with the vertical plane of the lever of about 88 or 89. An other opening 7 is then bored through the lever oining the openings 5 and 6, the axis of opening 7 being perpendicular to the central verticalplane of the lever.

In the assembly of the pivot a cylindrical bar 9 having a V-shaped groove of uniform depth is first placed in the opening 5 in the lever and the pivot bar 10 inserted in the opening 7, the knife edge of'the pivot bar being received into the V groove of the bar 9.

The cylindrical. pivot retaining key 12 is then driven into place in the opening 6 adjacent the back of the pivot bar 10 wedgingly hold the pivot bar in place in the lever, the wcdging effect being obtained by drilling the opening 6 at an acute angle with the plane of the lever. J

Milled or otherwise formed in the retainer is a groove 13 which is progressively deepened from one end of the retainer to the other, so that when the retainer is properly inserted in the lever in frictional engagement with the lever and pivot the grooved face thereof will be perpendicular to the plane of the lever and in perfect aligned engagement with the back surface of the pivots. The ends of the bar 9 are cone-shapcd so as to provide antifriction thrust memberswhich are adapted to cooperate with the bearings that engage the knife edge pivot.

The portions 4 of the lever 1 adjacent the pivot retainino key 10 are preferably enand serves to larged to provide suitable engaging surface for the pivot retainer, so that any tendency of the retaining key to loosen up will be practi ally precluded because of the large frictional snrtace between the key and the lever.

In the modification shown in Figures VII and VIII the pivot bar 10 is substantially iolygi'mal in cross section so as to provide two imile edges, either of which may be used by simply inverting the bar. The cylindrical bar 9 is substantially identical in construction with the bar S) shown in Figure II, but the retaining key 12 is provided with a V- haped groove 13 which is progressively deepened from end to end, the walls of the groove being adapted to co-operate with the knife edge oi the pivot bar 10' to hold the latter in place in the lever. In this form of the device, should the knife edge become worn it is only necessary to drive out the retainer 12, invert the pivot bar and replace the retainer, and a new knife ed e is ready for use.

In the mod i lied form of mv invention illustrated in Figure IX the back of the pivot bar 1.0 is substantially rectangular in shape, thus necessitating a rectangular groove in the retainer 12", so that the latter may properly cooperate with the back of the pivotbar to hold it in place.

The embodiments of my invention herein shown and described areto be regarded as illustrative only, and it is to be understood that the invention susceptible to variation, n'ioditication and change within the spirit and scope oi the suhjoined claims.

I'Iaving described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a lever having an opening, the walls of said opening being non-parallel, a pivot bar inserted in said opening, and means including a cylindrical member having a progressively deepened channel therein adapted to co-operate with the nivot bar and the walls of said opening for wedgingly retaining said pivot in place.

2. In a device of the character described, in con'ibination, a lever having an opening, the walls of said opening being non-parallel, a pivot bar, a grooved cylindrical member in said lever adapted to receive said pivot liar, and means including a cylindrical member having a groove progressively deepened from end to end adapted to be inserted in the opening in said lever and engage said pivot bar to \vedgingly retain the latter in proper position in the lever.

3. In a device ol the character described, in combination. a lever having a plurality of inter-conneeted cylindrical openings. the axis of one of said openings being nonparallel with the axes of the other of said open ings, a pivot bar inserted in said openings. a channeled cylindrical member in one of said openings and adapted to receive the knife edge of said pivot bar. and means including a cylindrical member having a channel pro gressively deepened from end to end adapted to trictionallv engage and co-operate with said pivot bar to hold same in place in said lever.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination. a lever having an openin the walls of said opening being non-para lel, a pivot bar, a channeled cylindrical member having cone-shaped extremities positioned in the opening in said lever and adapted to re- (teive said pivotv bar, and retaining means for said pivot bar including a cylindrical member having a groove therein progressively deepened from end to end and adapted to frictionally engage the pivot bar and maintain the latter in substantially perpendicular relation with the normal plane of the lever.

EDIVARD G. 'lI-ltHiIAS. 

